amputees and BM

one_right · Post by **one_right** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:51 pm

Looking for Lower Limb amputees who have gone to burning man, this is the biggest Grey are in my lack of information and am looking to fill it. so if you are a amputee or know of one who has gone to the playa, please contact me.

Post by **Sham** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:16 pm

It's not my place to introduce a very nice person on this forum who fits your bill, but if you have specific questions about access or permits to use vehicles etc. maybe we can help.
The surface of the playa is usually hard packed dust that is suitable for an electric wheel chair. I have personally witnessed two older gentlemen racing their Rascals on the playa. Nearly all the art structures give you some degree of accessability with the exception of the stairs to the top of some of the structures.
While radical self reliance is the rule of the week, you will have no trouble finding people nearby who can assist you if needed. It's what we do!!
I hope this helps and WELCOME to Burning Man!

Post by **mdmf007** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:05 pm

Shambala wrote:It's not my place to introduce a very nice person on this forum who fits your bill, but if you have specific questions about access or permits to use vehicles etc. maybe we can help.
The surface of the playa is usually hard packed dust that is suitable for an electric wheel chair. I have personally witnessed two older gentlemen racing their Rascals on the playa. Nearly all the art structures give you some degree of accessability with the exception of the stairs to the top of some of the structures.
While radical self reliance is the rule of the week, you will have no trouble finding people nearby who can assist you if needed. It's what we do!!
I hope this helps and WELCOME to Burning Man!

The surface is usually hard enough for wheeled chairs to get around OK - some years are better than others. 2007 - was perfect for anything on wheels. 2008 not so much.

If you are using a powered chair and need assistance there thousands of people willing to help out in a moments notice. ESD, Rangers, DPW and BLM will also help out at a moments notice as well. The dust is murder on electronics, but fortunately the manufacturers of electric chairs build a tough product IMO.

As far as prosthetic limbs go - you have to keep the dust out of the socket or it abrades the skin like rubbing compound sometimes to the point of being raw. Most people underestimate distances on playa as well. The lack of any meaningful references makes this easy to do.

I see golf carts, and other rigs with access placards of varying types on playa every year. Drop an email to DMV and ask directly.

have a great burn.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:15 pm

You might want to track down someone at Hot Wheelz camp. They have a lot of experience dealing with various mobility issues on the playa:

http://www.burningman.com/whatisburning ... mps_h.html

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:57 pm

I registered a golf cart as a disabled vehicle for a camp mate that had a very broken ankle. The process was relatively easy and registering the vehicle with DMV was a smooth process once I assured them I was not trying to cheat the system. The only required information you need is the make, model and year of the vehicle you want to drive on playa and your Handicap Parking Permit number(If my memory serves me correctly).

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 2:05 pm

Dork wrote:You might want to track down someone at Hot Wheelz camp. They have a lot of experience dealing with various mobility issues on the playa:

http://www.burningman.com/whatisburning ... mps_h.html

The listed URL link in the theme camp listing for Hot Wheelz Camp is no longer valid.

one_right · Post by **one_right** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:42 pm

Thanks. i am not quite sure i understand the first part of you response, but what ever. anyways i appreciate your response.

Access to structures is not too much of an issue, it was more the getting around that concerns me, not that i cant, but up to 7 days of walking and wearing my prosthetic for what could be days at a time (recently after about 72 hours of constant wear at a smaller event my stump was hurting) is what concerns me, also as mentioned having dust get in the socket would be an issue. so pretty much i am looking for amputees so i can see what they have done in the past

I thought about the idea of electric wheel chairs, or rascals or something, but as i currently don't have one i don't really want to make the investment in one just for BM unless i can find one cheap. plus transporting it from San Diego would yet another hurdle. i even consider an hand powered bike which might be easier.

when it comes to registering vehicles how does that process work and what need to be register, and if i want to do something like a golf cart but can not transport it up there are there any options? or where should i look for this info?

V/r

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:04 pm

I'm guessing this camp will return this year, here is the desciption and contact email from 2008. Probably can answer many of your questions.

Vedges & Gimps Camp
Vedges & Gimps Camp returns to BRC, this time alongside Hot Wheelz Camp. Both camps are here in service & support of BRC's handi-capable citizens to aid in their effort to traverse, explore & enjoy Burning Man. We bring vehicles ready to transport those who really need it.
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Contact: cryingbunnies (at) comcast (dot) net

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:22 pm

Start here, http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/ ... iving.html

Then go here when you have figured out what your Disabled Persons Vehicle will be. http://forms.burningman.com/

Your name and password are the same as ePlaya.

I am a fan of golf carts as disabled vehicles. They are reasonably small, not too loud and you are exposed to the elements and sounds. Not trapped in a car. Some people are vocal about not being fan's of golf carts but using one or any other reasonably small vehicle as disabled transportation is perfectly fine. Cars will get heckled BTW.

Surely it is possible to rent a golf cart and trailer in SD. I would recommend a Gas powered cart. Another option would be to buy a golf cart and trailer off of craigslist. I frequently see them listed together. From my searching of craigslist SD seems to have a robust and well priced golf cart market. If you are mechanically inclined you could buy a broken down cart and fix it up for the burn. It might be a large investment but your own freedom on your own terms might make it totally worth while.

If you have not come up with a solution by June 1. Get in touch with me.

Good luck.

one_right · Post by **one_right** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:56 am

[quote="AntiM"]I'm guessing this camp will return this year, here is the desciption and contact email from 2008. Probably can answer many of your questions.

[quote]Vedges & Gimps Camp
Vedges & Gimps Camp returns to BRC, this time alongside Hot Wheelz Camp. Both camps are here in service & support of BRC's handi-capable citizens to aid in their effort to traverse, explore & enjoy Burning Man. We bring vehicles ready to transport those who really need it.
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Contact: cryingbunnies (at) comcast (dot) net[/quote][/quote]

thank you i am going to send them an email.

one_right · Post by **one_right** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:57 am

[quote="motskyroonmatick"]Start here, http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/ ... iving.html

Then go here when you have figured out what your Disabled Persons Vehicle will be. http://forms.burningman.com/

Your name and password are the same as ePlaya.

I am a fan of golf carts as disabled vehicles. They are reasonably small, not too loud and you are exposed to the elements and sounds. Not trapped in a car. Some people are vocal about not being fan's of golf carts but using one or any other reasonably small vehicle as disabled transportation is perfectly fine. Cars will get heckled BTW.

Surely it is possible to rent a golf cart and trailer in SD. I would recommend a Gas powered cart. Another option would be to buy a golf cart and trailer off of craigslist. I frequently see them listed together. From my searching of craigslist SD seems to have a robust and well priced golf cart market. If you are mechanically inclined you could buy a broken down cart and fix it up for the burn. It might be a large investment but your own freedom on your own terms might make it totally worth while.

If you have not come up with a solution by June 1. Get in touch with me.

Good luck.[/quote]

Renting that is something i did not think off. if i do rent one, can i assume that it will be able to be return in the same condition (after some cleaning) that i got it in? or is that to hard to say. thanks

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 9:41 am

Bilateral AK amputee of less than 2 years' duration. I'm not on prothetics yet (issues with my right residual limb), so I cannot speak to those questions.
Mr. Fixit (of this board) runs the earlier referenced HotWheelz camp. Mr Jellyfish, Kernel Kilbuck and Pinemom know how to get hold of him and are on the board more often.
Tribe is less than ideal, but there is a tribe called "Playa Gimps" where you might get answers.
If you do go the golf cart route, then a gas cart is better; those batteries run down awful quick.
Also, there are handicapped restrooms at only some of the potty banks, you might want to camp near one and figure out where the rest are. Unless you're able to use a small blue room. I can't.
Do you have a push chair or are you completely chairless?

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:05 pm

[email protected] might be able to help ya get in touch with hot wheelz. They were using some msn stuff which closed down dec of 08, I'm sure there will be something else in the works for 09. They were in Center camp around 8 oclockish or somewhere thereabouts last year.

Vedges and Gimps is another camp as AntiM mentioned. Gargoyle on here usually posts something each year about their camp in the themecamp forum.

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:09 pm

one_right wrote:
Renting that is something i did not think off. if i do rent one, can i assume that it will be able to be return in the same condition (after some cleaning) that i got it in? or is that to hard to say. thanks

Power washing with vinegar as an additive worked well for me as an initial treatment. I did this in the engine compartment too. Then I washed it twice with normal car washing soap. Brought it back to what it was before the burn.

I would forgo a windshield. They collect allot of dust and get hard to see through almost instantly.

DMV will require that a sticker be placed on the lower left side of the vehicle so it might be good to make a spot for it out of some sheet metal. That way you do not have to clean up the very effective goop that is on the back of the sticker and it could be kept as a keep sake.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:14 pm

You might want to look into a club as well. Golf carts go missing with some frequency.
Will you need hand controls?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:35 pm

This might be worth asking your physiatrist/pt/prothetist as well.

lothos 1162 · Post by **lothos 1162** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 1:30 pm

Chukka send me ur info again please,computer got a virus lost all contact info.Lothos

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:28 am

Learned a few things about limited mobiliy.. I have fallen three time in the past few months.. So now I'm attached to a walker around the house.

The other day I took the Scooter to the mail box.. Bunch of hillbillys have moved in down the block "six junk cars".. This day one of the junkers was parked across the sidewalk.

I cell phoned the police.. Two cops, a tow truck and community inforcement showed up. Shit hit the fan. One cop covered me with his rain coat, The rest started to red taging everything in sight. While the tow truck hooked up the side walk blocker. All the while the swarm of hillbillys were running in circles and screaming..

So yesterday I decide to take the walker to the mail box. Had to ride the brake all the way. The hill is pretty steep.. While unlocking the box the leg gave away. I throw the walker away from me and grabed the mailbox.. Two cars went by and stared at me. The third stopped and got the walked out of the middle of the street and back under me..

You can bet your sweet ass it would have taken about two seconds to help me out on the playa..

AS for the leg.. Each time i have been given happy pills and sent home in pain.. My doctor has been deployed to combat zone. But he is home now!! Shit is going to hit the fan.. He knows I can handle a bunch of pain so knows something is real wrong with this leg..

Post by **mdmf007** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:49 am

Unjon -

Sorry to hear bout the callus assholes living in your neighborhood.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:29 pm

mdmf007 wrote:Unjon -

Sorry to hear bout the callus assholes living in your neighborhood.

I'll second that. Unfortunately sometimes it takes something that places someone amongst a group of peeps before they truly understand their pain and realize what they have been going through. So, hopefully one of the "billies" will break a leg

Or you can just firebomb they're junkers

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:34 pm

The Elks Club just coughed up a Round-a-bout.

They tryed to sell it on E bay with no takers. So it sat around the club house in the way..

My camp mate a.k.a. Grandfather is pretty banged up so they gave it to him.. He ask his VA doctor for a prescription for new batteries..

He took the small scooter for now and left the chair for me..

The chair looks like it just came out of the package..

My playa ride this year will pull a trailer so Granfather can get around BM.. So it will need a chair ranp and other wheeled people can ride along. It wont be a big thing to add a charging station. You can get you chair juiced as you ride along. Then a couple of bike hangers for the out of condition ones. Now that's a party barge. Limited to about 1200 pounds but fun anyhow..

Playable · Post by **Playable** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 5:54 pm

I've been following this thread and am really interested in meeting individuals with disabilities at this year's Burning Man. I'm a paraplegic and will be bringing a handcycle in addition to my chair.

I will also be shooting some video. Hopefully I will be able to get permission to shoot video with the intent of documenting disabled access at the burn.

All types of abilities!!!

If you or anyone has contact info. for Hot Wheelz, I'm having difficulty tracking down their camp info. It seems to have gone inactive.

Best,

Stan

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 6:39 pm

one_right wrote:Thanks. i am not quite sure i understand the first part of you response, but what ever. anyways i appreciate your response.

Access to structures is not too much of an issue, it was more the getting around that concerns me, not that i cant, but up to 7 days of walking and wearing my prosthetic for what could be days at a time (recently after about 72 hours of constant wear at a smaller event my stump was hurting) is what concerns me, also as mentioned having dust get in the socket would be an issue. so pretty much i am looking for amputees so i can see what they have done in the past

I thought about the idea of electric wheel chairs, or rascals or something, but as i currently don't have one i don't really want to make the investment in one just for BM unless i can find one cheap. plus transporting it from San Diego would yet another hurdle. i even consider an hand powered bike which might be easier.

when it comes to registering vehicles how does that process work and what need to be register, and if i want to do something like a golf cart but can not transport it up there are there any options? or where should i look for this info?

V/r

Are you talking about 2 wheels?
If you can handle that, an electric might be your best option.
A 3 or 4 wheeler has the advantage of going very slow or stopping, but the ability to go through narrow areas in crowds is a big advantage.
As always, wide tires may be needed, depending on conditions.
I have posted some things on electric bikes, if you're interested.

It's best to get something you can use year round, usually.

POWERCHAIR · Post by **POWERCHAIR** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:48 pm

...........

amputees and BM

amputees and BM

crypto

Disabled Access

HOT WHEELZ CAMP